RAK Brewing Co

Rehearsal

Rehearsal Dinner

Welcome Party

Riverside on the Potomac

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

TownePlace Suites Frederick

After Party

Shuttle Bus Pick Up Times

Our Wedding

*Love from Afar: An Accidental Romance* October 2020—the world had gone slightly off the rails. While everyone else was baking sourdough, panic-buying toilet paper, or debating the finer points of Tiger King, Katie and Adam stumbled unknowingly into something far more unexpected: each other. They both signed up for an online life coaching course, seeking clarity amidst chaos. Katie first noticed Adam from his course reflection video—there was something charmingly earnest about this slightly geeky British guy sharing his thoughts. So, naturally, she reached out with a playful, "What pumps you up?" Adam, intrigued by this bright and bold American, found himself smiling every time her notifications popped up. Adam, ever so smoothly (at least in his own head), seized an opportunity when Katie asked the group for an accountability partner. He volunteered immediately, conveniently ignoring that he already had one. Katie politely declined, at first. But as fate (or perhaps just curiosity) would have it, she reconsidered, leading to their first "quick" video call. That brief call stretched into four hours—a conversation filled with laughter, genuine connection, and Adam quietly suppressing yawns as midnight ticked by. Time zones became irrelevant, and distance was momentarily forgotten. It was easy, natural, and completely unexpected. Friends and family, understandably skeptical, raised eyebrows: "Are you sure he/she is even real?" "Have you considered the Atlantic Ocean in between?" "Are we sure this isn't a Catfish situation?" Yet, Katie and Adam found humor in the skepticism, knowing something deeper was forming beneath the surface jokes and playful doubts. For an entire year, they navigated the tricky dance of long-distance romance. Five-hour time differences, ocean-wide separations, and pandemic lockdowns became part of their daily rhythm. Their lives intertwined through virtual coffee mornings, cozy late-night chats, and even remote movie nights. Each screen-lit conversation brought them closer, bridging the gap between continents. Eventually, virtual wasn't enough. Katie took the leap—a literal flight across the ocean—and landed safely into the reality of their connection. Face-to-face, everything felt strangely familiar, comforting proof that love can truly thrive against the odds. Of course, life wasn't always smooth. Cultural quirks, immigration paperwork, and countless teary-eyed airport farewells tested their bond. Yet, through each challenge, Katie and Adam learned resilience, patience, and how to build strength together. Each difficulty was a brick laid in the foundation of something genuinely meaningful. Now, five years since that first playful question, Katie and Adam have woven together a life full of laughter, adventures, deep conversations, and genuine partnership. What began with a simple comment—"What pumps you up?"—transformed into a love story they hadn't seen coming but wouldn't trade for anything. Because sometimes, love arrives quietly, gently surprising you in the middle of life's unexpected chaos, exactly when you least expect it.

Our Story

Photos

Colleen Childs

Ashley Eden

Ashley Fenton

Ashley Webb

Jenna Bauer

Lauren Pace

Melissa Cohen

Sarah Spector

Sarah Treger

Taylor Wright

Jen Spoors

Andy Smith

Jonno Holding

Neil Watson

Steve Duncan

Andy Spoors

Wedding Party

Q + A

Be sure to mention the&nbsp;Duncan Holding Wedding&nbsp;when calling to make reservations.&nbsp; Other room-types are available outside our wedding block using "Special Rates" including AAA, CAA, Senior Discount, Government/Military, etc. If you book outside our wedding block, please mention you are part of the Duncan Holding Wedding.

Be sure to mention the&nbsp;Duncan Holding Wedding&nbsp;when calling to make reservations.&nbsp; Other room-types are available outside our wedding block using "Special Rates" including AAA, CAA, Senior Discount, Government/Military, etc. If you book outside our wedding block, please mention you are part of the Duncan Holding Wedding. Direct Hotel Block Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=FDKBPHW&amp;arrivalDate=2025-10-29&amp;departureDate=2025-11-02&amp;groupCode=CHW910&amp;room1NumAdults=1&amp;cid=OM%2CWW%2CHILTONLINK%2CEN%2CDirectLink

Homewood Suites by Hilton Frederick

For those flying internationally, this is likely the airport you will fly into when coming from Newcastle or Liverpool. It is about a 1-hour drive to Frederick. It is about 40-minute drive to our venue.

Dulles International Airport

BWI is approximately a 1-hour drive from Frederick &amp; our hotel block. For those flying from London or Manchester, this is likely the airport you will fly into. It is about 1-hour 15 minutes to our venue.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

DCA (Washington D.C. Airport) is approximately a 1-hour drive from the hotel.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Our DC/Maryland/Virginia Metro is one of the easiest ways of transportation if visiting Washington, D.C. for the day. You can buy your tickets on site. Shady Grove to Washington, D.C. is about a 1- hour trip (Red Line, may need to switch lines depending on where you want to go) Dulles Airport to Washington, D.C. is about a 1-hour trip (Silver Line)

Shady Grove Metro Station Kiss & Ride

There are several bus options for transportation in Frederick &amp; to-from Frederick. The MTA 515 Commuter Bus will take you from Frederick to Shady Grove Metro for $5-6 one-way fare. Website for bus schedule: https://s3.amazonaws.com/mta-website-staging/mta-website-staging/files/Routes+Schedules/515.pdf

Regional Transportation Services

Uber rides are easy to find in Frederick. If you are staying in an Air BnB we highly recommend using this to get home after our wedding.

Uber

Lyft Rides are just like Uber Rides. This is another app option you can download to catch a ride around town.

Lyft

There is also a Courtyard by Marriott close to the Homewood Suites. If you decide to book your accommodations here, it is a short Uber ride or about a 10-15 minute walk to where the shuttle will be picking up/dropping off guests.

Courtyard Frederick

Airbnb is another great option for staying in and around Frederick

AirBnB Frederick, MD

Just like Airbnb, VRBO is another housing option.

Vrbo

Leesburg, VA is about 20 minutes from our venue. Located on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, Leesburg offers a small historic town, outdoor walking areas, restaurants and shopping. For those who want to stay closer slightly closer to our wedding venue, this is another option. However, we highly encourage people to use our bus transportation from Frederick due to limited parking.

Leesburg, Virginia

Travel

Downtown Frederick is a cute place to walk around, pop into local shops, grab a coffee or a bite to eat, explore breweries, and maybe even find some live music.

Downtown Frederick

If you’re looking to get a drink, we recommend going to RAK! Owned by Katie's uncle and close to the creek and downtown area!

One coffee spot to checkout in downtown Frederick!

Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe

Another great option for food with an alternative vibe.

Cafe Nola

Hootch and Banter

Great bakery only open Thursday - Sunday!

Bakehouse

Take a stroll down by the water running by downtown Frederick.

Carroll Creek Park

A great park to enjoy a nice walk close to downtwon Frederick. Sometimes they have live music shows/events!

Baker Park

If you’re in town a little early and want to hit the greens we recommend Whiskey Creek. Other course options are PB Dye, Links of Challedon, or Clustered Spires.

Whiskey Creek Golf Club

Located on Catoctin Mountain, Gambrill State Park is a 10-15 minute drive from Frederick to a great state park with lots of short hikes &amp; overlooks of the Appalachian Mountains.

Gambrill State Park

If you want to get outdoors, Harpers Ferry is a historic town with a great hike to an overlook. Or choose from one of many other hikes! After hiking, hit up the Harpers Ferry Brewery for a beer and homemade pizza. Harper's Ferry is where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers meet. Beautiful spot! Highly recommend! About 20 minutes from Frederick

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Another great option for hikes with an overlook! About 25 minutes from Frederick.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Want to hike the famous AT? You can see the Appalachian Mountains from Frederick, that's how close they are!

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Hike the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River and walk out to see the Great Falls. Looking across the water you'll see Virginia.

Great Falls Parking(BillyGoat)

If you're staying a bit longer and want to check out one of our National Parks, Shanendoah National Park is about a 1.5 hour drive to the north end of the park. Drive down part of SkyLine drive and stop at all the Lookout Points along the way to the east and west. Great rolling hill views of the Appalachian Mountains and BlueRidge Mountains. Plenty of short or long hikes in the park. Note: You will need a pass for the day. If you plan to visit, ask Katie about her Annual Pass.

Shenandoah National Park

A great state park with walks, lake, waterfall, and views. 

Catoctin Mountain/Cunningham Falls State Park

Things to Do

Registry

(Our Preferred Choice) Our House Fund: Venmo: @Katie-Duncan-1 PayPal: kduncan72 The Knot House Fund: Below

<a href="https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/DuncanHoldingWedding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon </a>Registry

<a href="https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/katie-adam-duncan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Target </a>Registry

<a href="https://www.theknot.com/us/katie-duncan-and-adam-holding-oct-2025/registry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Knot </a>Registry

<a href="https://www.williams-sonoma.com/registry/hcjht2m8tw/registry-list.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">William-Sonoma</a> Registry

Katie & Adam

Katie & Adam

Cocktail Hour Menu